One of the most important choices you will have to make is the type of RV batteries or motorhome batteries you want to install. We have been in many discussions about which type, sealed or not, AGM or classic….. Your house battery will provide you with your light, but is also supporting your waterheater, heater fan, water pump when you are not on te grid. So issues like lifetime, power consumption come to mind. We will discuss these and the appropriate battery for the different applications.
Technically. a battery is producing power based on the natural dielectric beween two different metals. if you want a long lasting small power, then use big volume, small surface electrodes. If you need high power for a short time: Expose a big metal surface. This reflects in the way the starter batteries versus the deep cycle batteries (house batteries) are built. Compare this to emtying a bucket of water through a funnel: the bigger the funnel the faster the flow, but the faster your bucket will be empty. Depending on the application you choose a bigger or smaller funnel :-).
To produce the power, we need something to make connection between the metals. this traditionally done by sulfuric acid, a very corrosive liquid. That is one of the reasons we recommend going for completely sealed batteries, GEL or AGM batteries who are using a non liquid conveyant. The exact benefits of using one or the other are discussed below.
Battery Types by use:
- Starter Battery: Starter batteries are there for one main reason: deliver those peak amp necessary to start the engine of your vehicle. The engine battery must be able to do that several times one after another just in case and is also a buffer when you use other peak power equipment for a short while (e.g. starting the aircon on some models). ost of the time these sorts of batteries will be looked after by your mecanic.
- Hybrid Battery: These batteries are often used in smaller boats, where they are used for starting (smaller) engines, and at the same time used for supplying power to the rest of the boat. As they are normally not powerfull enough to start the engine of a car or truck, they can only be used as house battery in a campervan. Price can be a motivation for buying these for the latter, as they are readily available, though they will not be youir best choice lifetime wise.
- Deep Cycle Battery: Deep cycle batteries are doing as their name says: they can deliver a long lasting power, until they are completely empty and be recharged again afterwards. Something most starter batteries will not survive that many times. RV batteries are really purpose built. You can use one or multiple to achieve the necessary power.
Battery types: Flooded or Sealed.
- VRLA: VALVE REGULATED LEAD ACID. These are the traditional batteries, just executed with thicker plates than the starter battery. They are pricewise the cheapest option. Disadvantages are the possibility of leaks, you have to regularly check the fluid levels and they prduce the highly flamable hydrogen gas when charged. We do not recommend these, and if you use them only on the outside, in a wel vented area!
- GEL or GELA: GELLED ELECTROLYTE lEAD ACID: This is actually a sealed version of the above, where a gelling agent has been added to solidify the electrolyte. During (over)chargin these batteries can still discharge gas and the gel can decompose so the very coorosive electrolite becomes fluid. That combined with a crack or damage to the housing and a moving vehicle can cause quite a bit of havoc! Considering the price difference with the Gel type battery we recommend the latter.
- AGM or VRSLA: ACID GLASS MAT or VALVE REGULATED SEALED LEAD ACID: This is the ultimate in deep cycle batteries for RV. motorhome or travel trailer. Take a longer liftime, higher performance and very little risk makes this our preferred choice. The extra dollars more then worth!
We think the above simplified technical descriptions have given you more insight